Russian LGBTQ+ solidarity demo to take place in Brighton

A
demonstration of solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in Russia is planned to
take place on Saturday 30th November 2013 in Brighton. "To Russia with
Love, Brighton" starts at 12 Noon at New Steine Gardens off St James' St, by the HIV memorial.

Organised by members of local PCS and Unite unions,
and members of the Brighton and Hove Socialist Party, the aim is to
raise awareness of the increasing violence and oppression faced by gay,
lesbian, bi, trans, queer and other people in Russia.

In Russia today, gay people and their allies are
under attack: beaten, arrested and killed. New anti-gay laws have
effectively made it illegal to even mention the existence of LGBTQ+
people positively, let alone defend their human rights. Currently being
proposed is a law which would remove custody rights of gay parents of
their own children.

Young people in Russia demonstrating for LGBTQ+ rights earlier this year.

Beth Granter, Brighton & Hove Socialist Party says,

"
The coming Sochi Olympics puts the world spotlight on Russia and
international protests are showing mass opposition to Putin's homophobic
government. The 'Russian Section 28' is fuelling a rising tide of
violence. The laws must be challenged! Here in the UK we ask our own
government to defend human rights worldwide and tell Putin to stop
turning back the clock.

As a city which values its own diversity, it's
important for the people of Brighton to show our solidarity with LGBTQ+
people around the world."

Over 100 people are expected to gather on Saturday
where speeches will be heard from human rights campaigner Peter
Tatchell, local 'My Genderation' documentary filmmaker Raphael Francis
Fox, Russian LGBT activist Ksenia Zhivago and local Green Party
Councillor Phelim McCafferty. The event is also supported by the Rainbow
Association (Moscow-based LGBT activist group), March for Equality
(LGBT and women’s rights campaign), Russian LGBT Sport Federation,
Committee for a Workers’ International (Russia), Left Socialist Action
and the Pussy Riot Support Group.

3 September
- Whitehall, London - A demonstration was held opposite Downing Street,
to protest Vladimir Putin's signing into law the prohibition of
'promotion' of homosexuality in Russia. The protest was also attended by
human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, and TV presenter and writer
Paul O'Grady.

Who are we?

The Socialist Party fights for a democratic socialist society where the present rule of big business and profit is ended and people's needs come first.

We are affliated to the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) which is organised in more than 40 countries helping to unite working class and oppressed peoples against global capitalism. We help organise campaigns in workplaces, trade unions, schools, universities and communities. We fight against privatisations, cuts, fees, job losses, repossessions, war and attacks on homes, pensions and the NHS.

The Socialist Party branch in Brighton and Hove has a proud history of fighting for the city's working class, particularly our members and city councillors from Militant who led the victorious anti-Poll Tax movement of the late 80s and early 90s that brought down the Thatcher government.

In the past few years we have helped to secure Brighton's council homes for future generations against privatisation, campaigned to defend jobs and homes caused by the capitalist recession, fought against post office and nursery closures, supported working people taking action to defend their pay, pensions and conditions from attack, led protests against job losses, public service cuts and the privatisation and the dismantling of the NHS, and fought against academy plans to privatise the running of our schools. We have been key to the Brighton Stop the Cuts Coalition, and helped initiate and build the youth movement against fees and EMA cuts in Brighton at the end of 2010.